Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is taking minimal action to curb the growth of hyacinth in Mula river. The residents of Bopodi and Khadki have been suffering from it as the number of mosquitoes has increased.
The societies, situated close to the riverside, are affected the most. Sonali Bhosale, a resident of Mantri Rivera Society on Bhau Patil Road, Aundh Road, said, “Our society is situated at the river-facing side. And the hyacinth problem is the worst problem that we face till May as the number of mosquitoes increases extensively. We do not even dare to step out of our homes in the evening.”
Vitthal Savaskar, a resident of Mount Vert Society in Khakdi, who is also a doctor, said, “From the period of January to May, the cases of mosquito-borne diseases increases, and this the condition every year and the main reason is hyacinth. The sewage waste is getting mixed in the river and due to the construction of Harris Bridge, the water flow has stopped. The water has become stagnant and therefore, the hyacinth is growing more and more every day.”
Uttam Bahirat, a resident of Raghukul Nagari Society on Aundh Road, said, “We have complained to the PMC several times about the problems which we are facing due to growing hyacinth. And their usual reply is that they do not have extra manpower and an extra mechanism to remove the hyacinth.”
PMC Assistant Medical Officer Sanjeev Wavare said, “It has been 15 days that the manual work of hyacinth removal has started. But manually, it is not possible to remove all the hyacinth from the river. Therefore, we have given a letter to municipal commissioner to get a mechanised system to remove the hyacinth from the river which would prove a boon for the residents. It is under the tendering process.”
